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Romance Languages MA-Spanish: Non-Thesis

Purpose and Content

The Master's examination is designed to test the students' ability to demonstrate
extensive knowledge of the assigned texts, apply critical skills in the analysis of
those texts and organize and write coherent, substantial essays in Spanish.

The Master's examinations are written exams from the areas the student has chosen.

Comprehensive Exams

After completing the required coursework, degree candidates must take three comprehensive
exams. The student should select the areas in which he/she will be tested, and select
three graduate faculty members who will form his/her M.A. Committee. The student should
designate one of the three graduate faculty members as the Committee Chair. The Committee
Chair will be in charge of administering the M.A. comprehensive exams. Each faculty
member of the committee will create his/her portion of the comprehensive exam which
the Committee Chair will then administer to the degree candidate. Two of the written
exam areas must chosen from one of each of the following areas: Peninsular Literature
and Spanish American Literature. The third areas can be selected from any of the fields
listed as core courses. The student can also select his/her minor as a third area
of examination for the M.A. exam. For the M.A. in Linguistics, two of the written
exams must be chosen from Linguistics and one from literature.

Scheduling

Exams will ordinarily be given during the last semester of the student's M.A. courses.
Financial support (four semesters) is dependent on timely completion of the degree.
Exams may not be postponed more than one semester beyond the fourth. Part-time students
must complete the exams by the semester following the last course that counts toward
the degree. Postponements will be granted only for unusual and extenuating circumstances.

Exams will be given three times yearly: the second Monday in October (December graduation,
the first Monday after spring break (May graduation), and the first Monday in June
(August graduation). Exact dates will be determined at the beginning of each semester.
Any exceptions will require special permission from the graduate faculty.

The written portion of the three exams will be administered over a nine-hour period
during the scheduled dates. The student will take two exams on the first day (Exam
1: morning, and Exam 2: afternoon), and one exam on the second day (Exam 3: either
morning or afternoon) during the Language Laboratory schedule. The Committee will
decide if: 1. the exam is passed with no oral exam. 2. the exam needs to be defended
orally. If the oral exam is deemed necessary, the oral exam must be scheduled at the
discretion of the Committee a few days following the written exam (no later than two
weeks).

Administration of the Exam

The student must inform the Graduate advisor in writing, 8-10 weeks in advance of
the day set for the exam of his/her intention to take the M.A. exams, the names of
the three committee members and the areas in which he/she will be examined and the
area in which he/she will write the thesis. The Chair of the student’s M.A. Committee
will be responsible for:

distributing copies of the letter to the committee members;

setting the date of the exam;

collecting the questions from each member, keeping them in a sealed envelope and handing
it over to the Administrative secretary who will also reserve rooms for the exam;

making five copies of each exam: one for each committee member, one for the student
and one for the departmental file.

The Committee chairperson will be responsible for organizing and administering the
exam, consulting with the other members of the Committee about the results, and reporting
the results to the Graduate Dean, the student, and the Spanish Graduate Advisor. All
three areas of the written exams must be passed by the Committee in order for the
student to earn the M.A. degree. If one area is not approved, the student will have
to re-take that area after a period of at least four months and no later than twelve
months. If the student fails two or more areas, the student will have to be re-examined
in all three areas after a period of at least four months and no later than twelve
months. The chair will notify the Dean of the Graduate School. If the student does
not pass all three areas in the second examination, no degree will be granted.

Eligibility for the Doctoral Program

Successful completion of the Master's exam does not guarantee automatic eligibility
or acceptance into the doctoral program. The Master's committee will evaluate the
student's examination and recommend in favor of either a terminal M.A. or of eligibility
to continue. This assessment will become part of the student's file in the department.
If the student wishes to apply for admission to the doctoral program, the Spanish
graduate faculty will evaluate the Master's committee's assessment as well as the
student's annual review and other factors. If the evaluation is favorable, the student
may be accepted in the doctoral program. If the evaluation is unfavorable, a terminal
Master's degree will be granted.